National Diabetes Plans in Europe - What lessons are there for the prevention and control of chronic diseases in Europe?

The rising burden of diabetes poses important public health challenges to health systems today. Although countries in Europe have made progress towards developing a systematic policy response, there is still variation in the investment in and implementation of comprehensive strategies for the prevention and treatment of diabetes.

Drawing on a mapping of national diabetes plans (NDPs) in Europe that was undertaken as part of the EU Joint Action on Chronic Diseases and Promoting Healthy Ageing across the Life Cycle (JA-CHRODIS), this policy brief identifies a range of factors that appear to facilitate the development, implementation and sustainability of national diabetes plans. Making diabetes a political priority – either specifically or as part of broader non-communicable disease (NCD) strategies more broadly - has proven critical for the development and implementation of NDPs.